Hyderabad, May 14: Opposing the state government’s proposal to reduce reservations for backward classes from 34 per cent to 24 per cent in the panchayat raj bodies, the Andhra Pradesh State BC Welfare Association on Friday demanded the state government to revoke its decision.
It also warned of statewide protests if the government goes ahead with its decision.
The representatives of 16 BC organisations led by association president R Krishnaiah called on chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and urged him not to implement the Supreme Court verdict which restricts the reservations for SC, ST and BCs in local bodies to 50 per cent.
“It is unconstitutional to take such a decision. If the government is planning to implement the apex court judgment, it should enact a special law in the state Assembly. Further, the judgment was specifically delivered in a case involving Karnataka government and doesn’t mention of Andhra Pradesh,” Krishnaiah said in a statement.
He further said the government has failed to provide 50 per cent reservation for BCs on the population basis as per the 73 and 74 amendments of the Constitution.
He also opposed the proposal to provide four per cent reservations to Muslims in the local bodies.
However, he stated that they would not have any objection to Muslim reservations if the government provides them from the general quota.
–Agencies